Fertilizer-distributer.



' A. A. BULLOCK. FERTILIZBR DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1e, 1909.

Patented 1366.21, 1909;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

ALEXANDER A. BULLOCK, OF DABNEY, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOOWEN DAVIS, OF HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA.

l FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application filed August 16, 1909. Serial No. 513,042.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER A. BUL- Locx, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dabney, in the county of Vance and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFertilizer-Distributers; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in fertilizer distributers.

One object of the invention is to provide a fertilizer distributeradapted to be attached to a plow, whereby the fertilizer may bedistributed in the furrows, as they are being formed by the plow.

Another object is to provide a device of this character having meanswhereby the fertilizer will be positively fed from the hopper and meansto regulate the feed of the fertilizer.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a plow showingthe application of the invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section of the fertilizer distributer; Fig. 3 is a similarView, taken at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 4L is a cross sectional viewthrough the lower end of the hopper.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a plow which maybe of any construction and 2 denotes the plow handles.

My improved fertilizer distributer 3 is attached to the handles 2 of theplow by brace plates or other suitable fastening devices 4L whereby thedistributer is carried in a position immediately in rear of the plow.

The fertilizer distributer comprises a hopper 5 which preferably tapersdownwardly on all four sides from its upper to its lower end and in saidreduced lower end is arranged a feed plate or bottom 6 having formedtherein a plurality of discharge passages 7 of which there arepreferably three, said passages being arranged in the form of slotsextending longitudinally of the plate, as shown.

In the lower portion of the hopper and sli'dably mounted on the feedplate G, is a valve or gage plate 8 which is connected to the lower endof a shifting lever 9 which is pivotally mounted on the rear side of thehopper, as shown at 10. By means of the lever 9, the gage plate 6 isshifted back and forth over the discharge passages 7 in the feed plate,thus opening and closing the same to a greater or less extent andthereby regulating the feed of the fertilizer from the hopper.

Revolubly mounted in suitable bearings in the opposite sides of thehopper is a transversely disposed shaft or axle 11 which passes throughthe lower portion of the hopper and has revolubly mounted on its outer'end a supporting and operating wheel 12. Fixedly mounted on the shaft11, within the hopper 5, is a toothed feed wheel 13 which is adapted toforce the fertilizer from the hopper through the discharge passages inthe feed plate, thus preventing the passages from becoming clogged upand insuring a positive feed of the fertilizer when the plow is inmotion. The shaft or axle 11 is preferably supported at its outer end byan inclined brace rod 14C connected thereto, as shown.

It will be noted that the supporting and operating wheel 12 is arrangedon the landside of the plow and therefore travels on smooth solid groundand not in the furrows or plowed portions of the field.

By means of a fertilizer distributer constructed and arranged as hereinshown and described, the fertilizer is dropped or fed directly into thefurrows simultaneously wit-h the forming of the same by the plow.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined in theappended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a fertilizer distributer, a hopper, means for attaching the hopper tothe handles of the plow, a slotted feed plate arranged in the lower endof the hopper with the Slots extending longitudinally thereof, a gageplate mounted to slide longitudinally on said feed plate, anelbow-shaped operating lever pivoted at the bend thereof to Said hopperand connected at its lower end to said gage plate, whereby the lattermay be reciproeated to regulate the feed of the fertilizer from thehopper, a Shaft revolubly mounted in the hopper and projecting laterallybeyond one side thereof in the direction of the land Side of the plow, aSupporting and operating wheel Xedly 'mounted on the projeeting end ofsaid shaft and a toothed wheel fixed on said shaft within said hopperand adapted to force the fertilizer through the discharge slots in saidfeed plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER A. BULLOCK. itnesses H. BEACOM, E. WV. ELLIS.

